It's rivalry week and while the Border war between No. 2 Kansas and No. 3 Missouri is grabbing most of the national headlines, it's the annual showdown between Auburn and Alabama in the 72nd Iron Bowl that will captivate this college football-obsessed state Saturday night.

Pelham, Ala., native Montez Billings will start his first Iron Bowl at wide receiver Saturday. The sophomore's earliest memories of the rivalry are sitting with his grandfather in front of the T.V.

"I used to watch with my granddad all of the time," said Billings. "He's a big Auburn fan. He's the one who got me with Auburn, so it's a big game."

Junior center Jason Bosley's favorite Iron Bowl memory was just a few years ago when he was a senior at Grissom High in Huntsville and was on the Plains for a recruiting visit.

"I remember my senior year coming here when Carnell broke that 80-yard run on the first play of the game," said Bosley. "From then on, I was like, 'Man, this game is awesome.'"

Bosley is set to start his first Iron Bowl Saturday.

"You're remembered for what you do in this game," said Bosley. "You can do nothing in your whole career, but if you have a good game in the Iron Bowl, you'll be remembered forever."

Senior Josh Thompson will play in his fourth Iron Bowl. When he came to Auburn from Statesboro, Ga., more than four years ago, beating Georgia was his No. 1 motivation.

But living in this state for four-plus years has certainly changed his outlook.